New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority will raise the prices of beer, snacks, and beverages sold onboard trains and at stations if the Board approves the measure. The price, however, for a bottle of domestic beer (proposed $2.25 on the Long Island Railroad) will still remain lower than the cheapest one-way ticket to Manhattan on either the LIRR or Metro-North railways.
Photo Courtesy: Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
The Metro-North and LIRR are two of the few commuter rail systems in the world who sell alcoholic beverages to its customers. Many city transit systems have banned drinks altogether. The MTA, however, considers serving food and drinks onboard its trains as an"amenity for customers," especially for those traveling long distances. MTA also sees a profit when selling snacks and beverages on its platforms and onboard select trains. Last year, LIRR received at net profit of $500,000 (gross profit of $2.5 million), and the Metro North had a net profit of
$607,000 (gross profit of $5.2 million). By increasing the prices, the MTA says that it will catch up to rising labor and food prices.
MTA currently offers domestic and imported beers, soft drinks, liquors, spirits, peanuts, and water to its passengers. The average prices are expected to increase by about 25%.
